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VOL 5, NO. 8 MAR-APR 2010 HeritageNews

Montreal Mosaic Online snapshots of today’s urban anglos Tall Tales Surveys of historic and the Monteregian Hotspots The Gavazzi Riot Sectarian violence on the Haymarket, 1853 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

Quebec CONTENTS eritageNews H DITOR E Editor’s Desk 3 ROD MACLEOD The Reasonable Revolution Rod MacLeod PRODUCTION DAN PINESE Timelines 5 PUBLISHER Mosaic : Snapshots of urban anglos Rita Legault THE QUEBEC ANGLOPHONE The Mosaic revisited Rod MacLeod HERITAGE NETWORK How to be a tile Tyler Wood 400-257 QUEEN STREET SHERBROOKE (LENNOXVILLE) Reviews QUEBEC Uncle Louis et al 8 J1M 1K7 Jewish Painters of Montreal Rod MacLeod PHONE The Truth about Tracey 10 1-877-964-0409 The Riot That Never Was Nick Fonda (819) 564-9595 FAX (819) 564-6872 Sectarian violence on the Haymarket 13 CORRESPONDENCE The Gavazzi riot of 1853 Robert N Wilkins [email protected] “A very conspicuous object” 18 WEBSITE The early history of Mount Royal, Part I Rod MacLeod WWW.QAHN.ORG Monteregian Hotspots 22 The other mountains, Part I Sandra Stock Quebec Family History Society 26 PRESIDENT KEVIN O’DONNELL Part IV: Online databases Robert Dunn EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR If you want to know who we are... 27 DWANE WILKIN MWOS’s Multicultural Mikado Rod MacLeod HERITAGE PORTAL COORDINATOR MATTHEW FARFAN OFFICE MANAGER Hindsight 29 KATHY TEASDALE A childhood in the Montreal West Operatic Society Janet Allingham

Community Listings 31 Quebec Heritage Magazine is produced six times yearly by the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN) with the support of The Department of Canadian Heritage and Quebec’s Ministere de la Culture et Cover image: “Gavazzi Riot, Haymarket Square, Montreal, 1853” (Anonymous). des Communications. QAHN is a McCord Museum, MP-0000.812.2 non-profit and non-partisan umbrella organization whose mission is to help advance knowledge of the history and culture of English-speaking society in Quebec. Post Publication Mail Agreement Number 405610004. ISSN 17707-2670

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EDITOR’S DESK

The Reasonable Revolution by Rod MacLeod

alf a century ago this past New workforce, to the family. Control is no and not just because atheists have gotten Year’s Day, Quebec premier Paul longer the privilege of one gender, nor more vocal lately in their critique of reli- Sauvé earned his fifteen minutes of entrenched in one religious organization. gious movements and vice-versa. Most fame by collapsing while shaking The public face of Quebec half a century people tend to see “secular” as the oppo- hands with potential voters. His sudden death, after the Quiet Revolution is both male site of “religious” —which is correct but Hjust weeks after that of “Chef” Maurice Dup- and female and has many different shapes not in the sense that secular forces are lessis, put the nail in the coffin of La Grande and complexions. necessarily unaccommodating or even Noirceur and paved the way almost inevitably Now, all this is wonderful and we are hostile towards religion. In Christian tra- for the Quiet Revolution. Fifty years later, quite right to defend this situation against dition, the secular was “of the world” as Quebec society is so confident in its embrace its critics. But we must be clear in our opposed to of God or the spirit; priests of modern liberalism that it cheerfully oozes self own minds that we are this way because were “secular” because they worked in righteousness at the prospect of certain private we chose this path, by consensus, deliber- the world, as opposed to monks, who did- schools opening on Sunday and women who ately if not always unquestioningly or n’t. This distinction became clearer to choose to wear veils over their faces. even happily. It’s a work in progress. It’s people who argued that actions in this I come back to a subject I tackled a also an education; it doesn’t come in a world did not specifically affect one’s lot few years ago because it’s come back, bundle for us to file away, but must be in the next; Calvinists grew particularly with something of a vengeance, or what I gone over all the time, practiced and pol- adept at this argument, making commer- fear may soon look like vengeance. And ished. We don’t own it; we make use of cial fortunes even as they crossed their this is not to imply that the subject ought it. It does not define us; we are certainly fingers about the pits of Hell. Modern to have gone away, because quite frankly not alone in taking this path, and others liberalism has developed this line of all societies, and certainly ours, need to may come to take this path who seem thinking to an extent, maintaining that talk as much and as openly as possible very different from us. church and state should be separate, and about what our values are and how we If I sound like a mystic, my apolo- that when entering public institutions acquired them, and about why we recog- gies. I’m talking about a way of life—a one’s religious beliefs should be checked nize other values as foreign and what we set of values, if you will—that I call mod- at the door. should do about that. ern and liberal. Some people say West- But many religious people (Muslims I despair at polarized debates, where ern, but that is to take Quebec’s problem are a classic example) believe that creat- an issue must be either one thing or an- and write it on a global scale: the West ing a just society is a spiritual duty, and other, either right or wrong, without any may be largely modern and liberal, but so exactly what they are expected to sense of context. Context is history, of that doesn’t define it, and to claim so is to check at that door is unclear. Moreover, course. History will remind us, if we lis- open up modern liberal values to all accu- isn’t it a little absurd to ask someone to ten, that fifty years ago Quebec was more sations aimed at the West. The West did abandon the very thing that made them or less a lip-service democracy ruled in invent a kind of democracy, one that has want to do good... in the name of doing Tammany fashion with the support of or- met with much success on the whole, but good? If a man wishes to build a shelter ganized religion and big business—all it did so as a counter to other classic for the homeless, does it matter if he is those lovely things the 60s were against Western institutions like absolutism and influenced by the Koran, Das Kapital, or —in which dissent of any significant sort fascism. The West did invent a kind of JS Woodworth’s My Neighbour? was dangerous, at least socially. History feminism—maybe not the only legitimate Increasingly, we seem to be ready to will also remind us that until twenty years kind, I don’t know—as a counter to cen- answer Yes. We are suspicious. Religious before that, women did not vote in turies of entrenched patriarchy, gross people are always out to convert people, provincial elections; they did, however, prejudice, sexual bondage and, if you go aren’t they? Let them build a homeless have the right (and still do) to wear spe- back far enough, polygamy and chattel. shelter and the next thing you know the cially concealing clothes which marked Improving on all that certainly seems like homeless are being harassed by Bible those that did so as having a religious vo- a no-brainer, which is not to say there thumpers. (Sally Ann, anyone?) Or cation and being, by implication, sexually aren’t plenty of men who believe firmly worse: fanatics are getting a foot in the off-limits. Since those days, thanks in in women’s rights but still wouldn’t want door, and if they do, it will be only a mat- large part to several gentlemen who came their spouses to beat them at golf. ter of time before there are inquisitions to power after the revolutionary election Matters get dicier when we acknowl- and witch hunts. Now, many people who of June1960, Quebec has seen its institu- edge that modern liberal values are by argue this way have seen inquisitions and tions become more democratic and open, implication secular. Probably no other witch hunts first hand; others, closer to from government itself to the broad word today provokes such polarization, home, may be remembering life under La

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Grande Noirceur. But the rest of us sus- issues my passport believes? Our fear of This argument is hypocritical wherever picious people seem to be driven by fear. religious difference, and especially of the one finds it, but in Quebec it is particular- The sectarian violence that plagues the trappings of religion, has caused us to re- ly odd. It’s as if our memories did not world today makes it quite natural and treat to a position of intolerance, wherein extend back beyond June 1960. Or rather, practical to be fearful, and by and large we see all difference as a threat to what as if that revolution has been erased and we have opted to try to assuage these we claim to hold dear. This is to serious- we have come to believe that what was fears by imposing restrictions on our lib- ly undermine the values of modern liber- gained had always existed. When we say erty, from enforcing body searches at air- al society, which by its very nature al- that newcomers have to adapt to our ports to prohibiting people who dress a lows for, and thrives on, cultural differ- ways, we aren’t taking any particular certain way from receiving government ences. trouble to ask ourselves what those services. “ways” are, let alone trying to explain The latter measure (Bill 94), howev- s always, everything is polarized. them. Maybe we really feel there’s no er, is not really about security but rather On the one hand, there are people point, since at the end of the day our val- about something deeper and even less ra- who argue for cultural relativism, ues are ours and newcomers are, at best, a tional: a fear of The Other. Unfamiliar and by extension moral relativism. nuisance which, we concede, must be ac- habits make us uneasy; arguably it’s nat- By implication, none of the great achievements commodated. This essentialism is, of ural, part of a human defence mecha- Aof modern liberal society are worth more than course, the antithesis of modern liberal- nism. As we grow used to these habits, what they replaced; democracy is no better than ism. Our secularism sounds suspiciously they lose their peculiarity and cease to totalitarianism, for example. Now from a cer- like the belief that all religions are equal distress us, although their potential to ir- tain perspective this is perfectly true: everything but some religions are more equal than ritate us remains—particularly if we feel is relative. But to claim so across the board is to others. The “mainstream” culture being people are receiving special treatment overlook the importance of certain things peo- touted by increasing numbers in Quebec because of their habits. It’s dangerous ple have strived and sacrificed themselves for looks about as closely linked to modern for kids to bring knives to school, and over the centuries. On the other hand, there are liberalism as the crucifix on the walls of yet Sikhs may do so, for religious rea- people who start making all kinds of claims for the National Assembly. sons. Some people find this objection- the values they posit as an alternative to cultural able because they feel religion shouldn’t and moral relativism: they speak of Judeo- trump public security; others are irritated Christian values, Western values, or simply Our Query from New Zealand: because they always are when someone values. And others who don’t feel part of all appears to be getting a bigger piece of that get naturally defensive, often aggressively Information needed for a bi- pie, or even a different kind of pie, than so. ography of Harry Norris they do. Still others merely cry that this Let’s not be afraid to recognize the is not the way “we” do things. achievements of modern liberalism and I was intrigued to read Rod On the whole, religion shouldn’t to uphold its values, but let’s be clear MacLeod’s “Harry Norris: Ode to trump public security, not in a modern why. From far out in space everything Montreal West’s wandering minstrel” liberal society. The extent to which our may look the same, but up close there in the March-April 2009 issue of the fears curtail our liberties is a matter for should be little doubt that modern liber- Quebec Heritage News which was sent serious debate, but that there are limits to alism—with all the freedoms and, yes, to me by a Montreal contact. our personal freedoms is part and parcel grey areas and contradictions it con- One aspect of Norris’ life that was of living in any kind of society. A secu- tains—makes for a better society than not dealt with, however, was his asso- lar society is one in which religion does most practical alternatives. The path ciation with the Montreal Junior Sym- not dictate the law and in which one reli- we’ve taken over the last five decades in phony Orchestra, which was formed in gion is not privileged over others. Secu- Quebec, as in much of the world, has led 1947 by Lewis V. Elvin and continued larism does not mean there can be no us to a society that benefits from many until 1973. Harry Norris was stage compromise: the resolution of the kirpan points of view, from the experiences manager and a tutor for this orchestra, issue is a good example of reasonable ac- (never mind the products) of many dif- at least during a July-August 1954 tour commodation, and is perfectly consistent ferent cultures, and from the thoughts of England. I am trying to ascertain if with secular values. Secularism is also and actions of women as well as men. It Norris’s involvement was actually not about enforcing the absence of reli- is complex, and does not fear complexi- wider than just this single tour. I gion—something that the United States, ty. It embraces challenges and even con- would be grateful on any information and now France, seem to find extraordi- tradictions. Religion is one of these anyone might have that would reveal narily confusing. For public institutions challenges, perhaps its greatest one, but the extent of Norris’ association with to display religious symbols sends a mes- this is not to say the challenge cannot be the group, or any additional informa- sage of exclusion to those who do not met. The presence of the niqab is not a tion on Harry Norris’ activities in embrace these symbols, but people who threat to “our way of life;” it is “our way Montreal. work for public institutions should be al- of life,” now. lowed to display on their person whatev- Above all, let’s stop insisting that Peter Downes er symbols they wish to; what difference modern liberalism is what defines Us [email protected] does it make to me what the person who and, worse, claiming that it always did.

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TIMELINES

Launch of the Montreal Mosaic WebMagazine n March 26, 2010, the Montreal Mosaic The following are excerpts from the conference WebMagazine was launched at the Atwater and its accompanying literature. Library, capping a half-day conference on Arts Culture and Heritage issues facing the Webmagazine to draw portrait of Greater English-speaking communities of Montreal. The con- Montreal ference was one of a series on the city’s diversity put O by Rita Legault together by the Community Develop- ment Initiative (GMCDI), a community organization that seeks to engage and consult English-speaking uch of this city’s history, culture, and art Montrealers on key issues. is appreciated by far too few. “Montreal After words of welcome from Lynn Verge, the At- Mosaic” (www.montrealmosaic.com) water Library’s executive director, a series of presenta- hopes to change that. tions were made: Sylvia Martin-Laforge (executive di- “Like a true mosaic, our WebMagazine is an as- rector of the Quebec Community Groups Network) on Msemblage of small pieces that come together to create a the role of Official Language Minorities, Guy Rodgers picture of Metropolitan Montreal,” said Guy Rodgers, (executive director of the English Language Arts Net- chairman of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Council of work) on the history of ELAN, Kevin O’Donnell and the Greater Montreal Community Development Initia- Rod MacLeod on QAHN’s involvement in Montreal, tive (GMCDI). “And, in the image of our diverse cos- and Solange Bourgouin (Department of Canadian Her- mopolitan community, every piece of the mosaic main- itage) on PCH’s support for Arts Culture and Heritage. tains its own identity while contributing to the overall A stimulating round-table discussion on issues fac- picture.” ing the city’s English-speaking community ensued, led “There is no thriving artistic scene in the world by GMCDI coordinator Nina Kim. The Montreal Mo- that does not have strong connections with its local saic WebMagazine was then launched by Matthew Far- community, and no dynamic population that does not fan (QAHN’s web editor) and Tyler Wood (Montreal have its own artists to tell its stories,” commented Mosaic project coordinator). Rodgers, who is the Executive Director of the English-

Montreal Mosaic Webmagazine Homepage 5 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

Language Arts Network (ELAN). guage Arts Network whose contributions will make “One of the advantages of a WebMagazine is that Montreal Mosaic a showcase for arts and culture as contributors are not bound by conventional magazine well as heritage. article format,” said Mathew Farfan, editor of the Que- Montreal Mosaic is also part of QAHN’s own on- bec Heritage Web. “Montreal Mosaic hopes to inte- going Montreal initiative, which began nearly four grate many forms of artistic expression including years ago as we canvassed writers, researchers and his- memoir, fiction, photographs, music, video, and other torical groups across the city to see if they would be media that help artists to tell the story of their Montre- willing to share their stories with us. We secured a al roots and the city’s dynamic cultural and artistic number of articles for our print magazine, the Quebec scene.” Heritage News; these articles were from people repre- Farfan noted the wide variety of voices already re- senting a wide variety of cultural backgrounds who flected in Montreal Mosaic: Black historian Dorothy wrote about their own experiences, the history of their Williams, artist Cheryl Braganza, historian and com- communities, and the often fragile landmarks in the munity volunteer Fergus Keyes, and Janet Lumb, city that represent their heritage. founder of the Acces Asie festival. These stories exam- We discovered a number of challenges in talking ine how individuals and groups fit into and add to the to Montrealers about “Anglophone” heritage. One social fabric of Greater Montreal, what identity or challenge was countering the idea that QAHN must identities they’ve adopted, and how this city has have some political angle if it was emphasizing the shaped them. “Anglo” element: very few people in arts, culture or The goal of Montreal Mosaic is to showcase a di- heritage are interested in taking part in debates about versity of local perspectives and identities, said project language rights – and neither is QAHN. Another chal- co-ordinator Tyler Wood, who put together the first lenge was simply convincing people they could talk edition of the web magazine. Thus, for Wood, the most about themselves as “Anglophones” or even part of an dynamic section of the WebMagazine is the list of “re- “English-speaking” community. Neither term is popu- flections” – those articles that are written with some in- lar: “Anglophone” comes up against the very deeply trospection on the part of the contributor. “A visitor to ingrained belief in Quebec there is something called the site can see all of these listed together. Artist pro- “allophone,” or else it suggests a narrow identification files, tales of immigrant experiences, and musings on with the culture of Britain, or else it’s just too unsexy the importance of particular Montreal institutions, inti- for words; equally, the phrase “English-speaking” mate histories of neighbourhoods: here we get the full seems absurd to most Montrealers when the vast ma- variety of stories, diverse and unfiltered.” jority of Francophones are English-speaking. Wood noted, however, that the WebMagazine is We decided it made sense to stop using these organized to appeal to visitors with different interests. terms and simply ask people to tell their stories. “If you’re interested in a particular organization, you The first round of QAHN’s Montreal initiative can quickly find all the articles it has contributed in culminated in a one-day symposium, which we called one place. If you’re only interested in the history side “Montreal Mosaic,” held in April 2007 at the McCord of things, we’ve set up the site so you’re free to ex- Museum. The symposium brought together over 100 plore only those articles – likewise for arts and cul- people who found they had much in common, despite ture.” The site also offers a selection of historic images many different backgrounds, including Irish, Jewish, and , as well as an events calendar to keep track Indian, Chinese, Greek, Jamaican, and Inuit. Proceed- of all that’s going on in the area. Wood notes that the ings unfolded in English, with the occasional French WebMagazine makes it easy for visitors to add an intervention, although the initial welcome came in both event to the calendar, and that Montreal Mosaic espe- languages, as well as Spanish, German and Italian – cially appreciates bilingual submissions of articles, re- the latter from the keynote speaker, the Honourable flections and organizational profiles. Marlene Jennings, who speaks it with her in-laws. The presentations and stories were interspersed with films, The Mosaic Revisited dance numbers and musical performances reflecting by Rod MacLeod several widely differing cultural traditions. Above all, there was plenty of that ultimate networking tool: food he Montreal Mosaic WebMagazine is the lat- – by most accounts much better and much less familiar est in a series that QAHN intends to produce than what one normally finds at conferences. But food for the entire province. So far we have five for thought was the day’s best legacy, as participants to our name, beginning with the “Townships went home pleased they had found a forum where no- Heritage Webmagazine / Patrimoine des Cantons Cy- tions of identity and culture were so easily, if tentative- Tber Magazine” and continuing through the Laurentians, ly, explored. the Outaouais, and the Gaspé – the latter in collabora- For the last year and a half QAHN has been look- tion with CASA. This time, we are very pleased to be ing for an occasion to take the achievements of Mon- collaborating with the Greater Montreal Community treal Mosaic to the next level. It became clear to us Development Initiative, as well as the English-Lan- that this involved creating a WebMagazine for the

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Greater Montreal area. Just as clearly, we needed to put Montreal Mosaic by providing their personal reflec- a much greater emphasis on multiculturalism than we tions. These stories examine how people and groups fit had in the other webmags, given the city’s enormous into and add to the social fabric of Greater Montreal, diversity and the consequent multiple layers on which what identity or identities they’ve adopted, and how Montrealers consider themselves and their heritage. this city has shaped them. There also had to be much more emphasis on arts and Some concentrate on the history and development culture, given how closely the two (or three) are inter- of a particular neighbourhood, town or ethnic group. twined in the city. The timing was right. QAHN and Others focus on a particular institution’s role and place ELAN were already working closely within the Arts in the metropolitan region. Still others are the unique Culture & Heritage council of the GMCDI, and taking perspectives of individuals, whether they are artists on the WebMag project as part of the GMCDI’s pro- that deal with these themes professionally or simply jected conference series on Diversity seemed the per- citizens with their own take on things. fect venue. So here we are! Montreal Mosaic encourages individuals and or- QAHN is now also launched on a major redesign ganizations to add their own stories to our collection. of its own website, which will include the overall look Here are some of the questions we aim to explore: and flavour of the WebMag series. Montreal Mosaic • How did you come to be living here, to be a will therefore serve as a model for the other regions: Montrealer? If you work with an organization, when more diverse in content, and more friendly and inform- and why was it established? ative in form. • What has been the historical experience of a community with whom you identify or serve? (This How to be a tile could be an ethnic group, religious community, cultural by Tyler Wood troop, a profession, a gender or sexual orientation, a particular generation, etc.) t’s hard to be bored by Montreal, but it’s easy to • What identities have you or your group devel- be overwhelmed—by our amazing history, di- oped, living and working here? How are you unique? verse culture and vibrant arts scene. “Montreal • How do these identities relate to one-another? Mosaic” is a place to rediscover your city. A How have they evolved over time? meeting place: a place for sharing stories, a place for • How do you, your organization or your group Ipersonal reflections and community perspectives on contribute to community-building? the past, present and future of a great Canadian me- • How and why do you use the English lan- tropolis. It’s a place to explore, question and celebrate guage? What other languages do you use? English-Montreal’s evolving cultural identities. Of course, there are no wrong answers to these In particular, Montreal Mosaic is keen to look at questions. The goal of Montreal Mosaic is to showcase how groups and individuals contribute to the local arts, a diversity of local perspectives and identities. Never- culture and heritage scenes. The WebMagazine fea- theless, this is a place for respect and sharing. tures an inventory of organizations and places active One of the advantages of a WebMagazine is that on these fronts. contributors are not bound by conventional article for- A wide array of voices has already contributed to mat; we happily include poems, photographs, video, audio and other media that help to tell the story. The editorial staff at Montreal Mosaic suggests that the written compo- nent of any contribution be no longer than 1,000 words. We ap- preciate bilingual submissions.

Rita Legault is Director of Com- munications at the Quebec Com- munity Groups Network

Rod MacLeod is past-president of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network and sits on the board of the Quebec Community Groups Network.

Tyler Wood is project co-ordina- tor of Montreal Mosaic and a his- torian at the Centre d’Histoire de Montreal

Tyler Wood with featured author Fusun Atalay, his high school English teacher (Photo courtesy of Fusun Atalay) 7 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

REVIEWS UNCLE LOUIS ET AL Jewish Painters of Montreal: Witnesses of their Time, 1930-1948 McCord Museum of Canadian History Review by Rod MacLeod hen I was about six or known as Louis Muhlstock—was, along seven my parents sent me with several other painters active in the to art class on Saturday 1930s and 40s, the subject of a retro- mornings, partly as an al- spective exhibition at the Saidye Bronf- ternative to TV cartoons but mostly be- man Centre: Jewish Painters and causeW they thought I’d have fun. And I Modernity. The show was a highlight of did. They were encouraged by the the 1987 season, when the Saidye was in teacher, who was a great believer in art the throes of a major structural renova- being fun, in self-expression, and in not tion that prevented any theatre or out- sticking slavishly to the rules—all things reach activities from taking place. Jew- that appear to have fallen out of fashion ish Painters was a landmark exhibition in recent pedagogy. As my mother often on its own terms, profiling as it did the reported it, the teacher believed his main careers of some of Canada’s best, if un- job was to undo what we’d learned in dersung, artists and positioning them in school. One of my mother’s colleague a time and place that underscored their had been instrumental in setting up the vital contribution to Canadian art. class, located in the recently-acquired Moreover, the show’s curator was a meeting house of the Society of Friends francophone, Esther Trépannier, a young al in terms of insight and sympathy. The near Atwater. The colleague’s daughter, art historian and subsequently professor Great Depression drew them to the whom I knew well, also attended the at UQAM whose expertise in mod- wretched for subject matter, and the re- class, which was a source of comfort for ernism led her to appreciate these inno- sult was incredible dignity. Neumann’s me, hopelessly shy at meeting new kids. vative artists from the Jewish Main, the series, “Unemployed” shows men with- But you couldn’t be shy around “Uncle YMHA and the Art Association of Mon- out hope who nevertheless retain self- Louis,” the wonderful old guy who treal. In the wake of the exhibition, the worth and surprising beauty; it is not taught us. Or, according to his philoso- Musée national des beaux-arts du their fault that the world is too harsh phy, untaught us. Québec proceeded to purchase over 200 even for heroes. Muhlstock’s subject Two decades after these madly cre- of the works in question, then largely in even has a name—“William O’Brien, ative mornings with me and Laura in the private hands. In 2008 these works went Unemployed”—and looks as if he’d Quakers’ basement, Uncle Louis—better on exhibit in as part of the worked in a bank or a law office not so quadracentenary celebrations under the long before. (What was his story?) title Jewish Painters of Montreal: Wit- nesses of Their Time, 1930-1948, again with Trépannier as curator. A portion of that exhibition is now on display at the McCord Museum in Montreal. “Modernity” is an overused word, but if it describes the ability of artists to reflect their own times, including the harsh social realities of an industrial age in crisis, it applies to these artists, whose work echoes the best of early twentieth- century avant garde from Fauvism and Cubism to Italian Futurism and German Expressionism. As a group, they— Muhlstock, Ernst Neumann, Harry Mayerovitch, Jack Beder, Alexander Bercovitch and Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, just to name the more productive—ran rings around their counterparts in Anglo- Protestant and French-Canadian Montre-

Ernst Neumann, "Unemployed No.5," 1933, lithograph, Musee des beaux- 8 arts du Quebec. Louis Muhlstock, "William O'Brien, Unemployed," 1935, charcoal and brown chalk on paper, Musee des beaux-arts du Quebec. MARCH-APRIL 2010

tion are self-portraits or portraits of fami- ly members, neighbours, children playing. The has never looked so gloriously moody as in Neumann’s litho- graphs, and neither have the streets off The Main that Beder painted: “Grey Day, Prince Arthur East” is absolutely haunt- ing, its rain-slicked streets gleaming de- spite the scene’s bleak Novembrish chill. So much of Montreal was like this—and still is, in carefully watched pockets—but it took the Jewish Painters to bring it to life. Uncle Louis was 97 when he died, but spry to the end. A few years before, a reunion of the art class families took place with Louis the guest of honour. It was fun to cross paths with Laura again These artists also cast critical eyes on by contrast, are passive; we can’t even see —curiously, she also did a degree in His- the urban world around them, showing the faces on two of them. The third sits tory, although her subsequent career went the seamy side of pre-war Montreal life with eyes closed, a model of tired resigna- in an entirely different direction—and to —sailors, drunks, hookers—as well as the tion; his mind may be miles away— reminisce about those crazy Saturday hypocrisy of the legal system and social someplace warm and bright, perhaps with mornings. Louis said he remembered us, mores that regulated them. Mayerovitch, Jazz in the background—but his life is which may well have been true, but even in particular, skewers lawyers and petty solidly here, in a well-fed but strenuous if not it was clear he was delighted to see officials in biting caricature as if he were 60-hour work week and the Silver Door his protégés. He sat, Chaplinesque, his illustrating Dickens. The satire is often as the height of excitement. This is the hands on the top of his cane, looking not subtler: I was drawn right in to Beder’s world artists run screaming from—though so very much unlike those battered but “Café Scene, Silver Door” from 1934, in Beder caught this image brilliantly as he dignified subjects from the 1930s. There which a group of middle-aged people sit looked back. was a moment in the evening when around a table in their coats and hats, pos- With the outbreak of war, these everyone expected him to speak words of sibly to keep off the chill but more likely painters did their bit, in keeping with their wisdom, but instead he grinned and de- because such garments spoke of social social convictions and a more deeply-felt clared: status. The woman in the centre is pontifi- hostility to fascism than that expressed by “I was once at an antiques market cating about something with a sneer on most non-Jewish artists. Muhlstock where a fellow tried to sell me a skull, her face that you know is perpetual, and turned his attention to factory workers on which he said was the skull of Chaucer, another clearly shares her sour disap- whom he bestowed the same dignity as the great English poet. I said to him: ‘But proval while somehow suggesting weari- the unemployed: William Frechette, a real this is the skull of a child!’ He replied: ness, as if she’s heard it before. The men, guy in a welder’s uniform, might well ‘Oh yes. It’s the skull of Chaucer when have been William O’Brien, once again he was a child!’” among the ranks of the waged. This from one of the great generation Mayerovitch, the born caricaturist, pro- of Quebec painters, one that straddled duced striking images of Goebbels as a some of history’s darkest years. This nightmarish rat and, closer to home, from an artist who believed in having fun sketches of Duplessis as “The Laurentian and in not sticking slavishly to the rules. Napoleon.” Eventually Mayerovitch We all have much to learn. Or unlearn. went to work for the National Film Board, producing noble if stylized posters featuring industrial workers for inspira- Jewish Painters of Montreal: Witnesses of tional films; perhaps his most effective is their Time, 1930-1948 runs at the Mc- “The Gates of Italy” from 1943, showing Cord Museum to May 2, 2010. The cata- the huge cracked head of Mussolini amid logue of the full 2008 exhibition is avail- classical ruins, crumbling while “Canada able in the museum bookshop. carries on!” It is to Mayerovitch’s credit that he didn’t go in for an advertising ca- Rod MacLeod is the author of Spirited reer after the war, but remained a light- Commitment: A History of the Samuel hearted but sharp cartoonist, publishing and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation, right up to his death in 2004. to be published in June by McGill- Not all is topical and critical. Some Queen’s University Press. of the most beautiful pieces in the exhibi- Jack Beder, "Café Scene (Silver Door)," 1934, gouache on paper, private collection, Montreal. Harry Mayerovitch, "The Gates of Italy (Canada 9 Carries On)," 1943, Library and Archives Canada. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

THE TRUTH ABOUT TRACEY The Riot That Never Was: The military shooting of three Montrealers in 1832 and the official cover-up by James Jackson Baraka Books, 2009 Reviewed by Nick Fonda any years ago, I read a cu- the tragic loss of innocent human lives; riously captivating novel although, listed with the litany of atroci- entitled Daughter of Time ties committed by one figure or another by Josephine Tey. The in a quest for power, these murders will protagonist was a Scotland Yard inspec- remain footnotes, albeit interesting foot- Mtor confined to bed with a broken leg. To notes. Both books appeal to the arm- pass the time, and with the help of chair historian in us, and turn us into friends who researched reference li- armchair detectives. Both books use the braries for him, he set out to solve a magnifying lens of time to trace myth crime familiar to British schoolchildren: and uncover, bit by bit, the vein of truth the death of the Princes in the Tower. which runs underneath. The title of History has always pointed a finger at Tey’s book is the second half of the old graphically, Montreal is about to become Richard III for the death of his two proverb: Truth is the daughter of Time. predominantly English-speaking. There nephews and he has been vilified by The Carrollesque title of The Riot That are tensions that stem from both religion writers as eminent as Shakespeare and Never Was speaks for itself. and language. Politically, there’s an in- Thomas More. But before the inspector The events Jackson traces in Riot creasingly insistent yearning for repre- leaves the hospital, it’s clear that are deceptively simple. During a vigor- sentational government while the British Richard is the fall guy in an official cov- ously-contested spring by-election in governor and his appointed Legislative er up orchestrated by Henry VII who Montreal, in 1832, British troops were Council are growing testy and vindic- took the British throne by defeating called to the vicinity of a polling station, tive. Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth ostensibly to quell a riot. A few hours Jackson’s book is documentary and Field. later the troops fired a volley down St we are introduced to hundreds of indi- James Jackson’s The Riot That Nev- James Street. and killed three innocent viduals. Daniel Tracey—an Irish med- er Was reminded me strangely of bystanders. A grand jury investigated ical doctor turned newspaper editor—is Daughter of Time. At first glance the the shooting and much to the relief of one of those who cuts a compelling fig- two books—like the two authors—might the Governor of Lower Canada, Lord ure. He is released from prison in time seem to have very little in common. The Aylmer, a career military officer and lat- to win, surprisingly, a tightly contested Riot That Never Was is a meticulously er general, the army was absolved of any by-election, only to die—not of a mus- researched piece of nonfiction, not at all wrongdoing. In the 178 years since the ket wound but of cholera—days later. a novel as Tey’s cleverly structured story shooting all historians have accepted the As vivid is the picture Jackson paints of within a story unmistakably is. James grand jury’s verdict. daily life: women can vote, not because Jackson is an academic with a list of James Jackson patiently and sys- of universal suffrage which would take scholarly publications to his credit; tematically roots out primary sources almost a century arrive, but because Josephine Tey was a Scottish teacher- and through the voices of those who wit- some women are property owners. Elec- turned-writer whose most successful nessed the events of May 21, 1832, we tions last for days, even weeks; polls novel, Daughter of Time, was published come to the inescapable conclusion that stay open until an hour after the last vot- a year before her death in 1952, at the the grand jury was rigged and Aylmer er leaves the polling station. Voters can relatively young age of 56. was involved in a cover-up. expect thugs, hired by the candidates, to And yet… He sets the scene very nicely for us. be lurking near the polling station. Spe- Even though my Grade 9 History Montreal, in 1830, is a city of 27,000 cial constables can be identified by their course was the History of the British souls, bursting with an energy that is blue staves. Montreal is served by five Isles, the story of the young sons of Ed- about to turn it into the economic engine different newspapers. ward IV meant nothing to me before of Lower Canada and British North The story behind Riot is almost as reading Tey’s book. Similarly, even America. There are lucrative opportuni- interesting as the book itself. though I have at least a cursory acquain- ties awaiting the burgeoning merchant James Jackson grew up in Liver- tance with the Rebellion of 1837, I had class, among other things over a million pool, England in the 1950s. “My father never heard of the events in Jackson’s acres of densely forested land are about worked at the docks,” he explained in a book. The central events of both involve to be opened up for exploitation. Demo- recent interview, “and we lived on Scot-

Image courtesy of Baraka Books 10 MARCH-APRIL 2010 land Road, near the city centre. It was “In France, I was the group’s interpreter Jackson’s particular interest in Que- supposed to be a tough neighbourhood and I spoke French every chance I got,” bec (he was twice president of the Asso- —the bobbies always patrolled in pairs he says. “One Sunday morning, near a ciation for Canadian Studies in Ireland) —but I don’t remember it that way. It small Italian town, I was sent out to find started at the end of his first year at uni- was a neighbourhood that produced a the church. It was hot. There was no versity. “At the very end of the year we few names. My best friend was Allan one on the streets. Then, I spotted a were each given a French-Canadian nov- White who had an older sister, Priscilla, priest. I approached him, and because I el,” he recalls. “I was assigned Une Sai- determined to make it into show busi- didn’t know a single word of Italian, I son dans la vie d’Emmanuel by Marie- ness. She struck up a friendship with asked him, ubi est ecclesia catolica? It Claire Blais. The book was so different, John Lennon, changed her name to Cilla worked. The priest understood me!” so fresh compared to everything else I’d Black and became a successful singer In 1966, with the Second Vatican read until then, that I was captivated.” and entertainer. Council, there was a change in the air. A He went on to specialize in the “The came into my third of the way through his theological eighteenth-century and the work of life when my parents billeted two mem- studies for the priesthood, he asked to Diderot, the editor of the famous Ency- bers of a Paris-based boys’ choir which attend university. “I went to Birming- clopédie, but Quebec continued to beck- had come to perform at St. Anthony’s, ham to study French,” he says, “because on. At Oxford he’d met and struck up a where I was an altar boy,” he recalls. it would permit me to study abroad. friendship with Patrick Vinay, son of the “They were a little older than I was. I During my third year, I went to Mont- former Professor of Linguistics at the attended their rehearsals and showed pellier, in the south of France. That was Université de Montréal, who was to go them around Liverpool. I was with them where I realized that I should go into ac- on to become Dean of Medicine at the for three full days and when they left I ademia and not the church. I realized same university in Montreal. Two or promised myself that I would learn to that what had so appealed to me as a three years after starting his career at speak French as well as they did.” child was the priest speaking from the Trinity College, Jackson started giving a A strong student, Jackson had pulpit. I wanted to have the fluency to course on French-Canadian writing. earned a place at grammar school when speak to people.” “Diderot is my favourite,” he con- he expressed an interest in the priest- After graduating at the top of his fesses, “but I was growing more interest- hood. At the age of 11 he entered a jun- class he taught for a year—at Montpelli- ed in what was happening here. Be- ior seminary and learned Greek, Latin, er—and then went to Oxford where he cause my field was 18th century, that’s and his favourite subject, French. A earned his doctorate, a degree which led where I looked first, but what really year later, he travelled to Rome with to a 25-year career as a professor of came to interest me was the great activi- several classmates in a minivan. Both French at Trinity College in Dublin, Ire- ty that was occurring in the early part of his French and his Latin came in useful. land. the 19th century.”

Robert Sproule, "St James Street, Montreal, 1830," watercolour, McCord Museum M300 11 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

By the 1980s, Jackson was coming tors was never written and what Jackson question their version,” Jackson ex- to Montreal quite regularly to do re- thought might be a page or two on a mi- plains. “But as I looked at their sources, search. “Often, I’d stay with Patrick and nor incident turned into The Riot That I realized that everyone was basing him- his family,” he says. “On Saturday Never Was: 350 pages, of which the last self on Aylmer’s version of the events. mornings they’d get Le Devoir. I used 20 are notes and bibliography. While No one apparently had taken the trouble to read it and in particular a columnist James Jackson’s intention was to avoid a to consult the Journal of the House of by the name of Denise Bombardier.” scholarly work, he was determined to be Assembly (available now on the Inter- Originally, Jackson began research thorough and precise. He gives an entire net) for the years that covered the As- for a book on two pro-Patriote newspa- chapter over to the short 15-minute peri- sembly’s own investigation of the events pers, the Canadian Spectator and the od during which the shooting took place. of May 1832, an inquiry that lasted Vindicator and their three Irish-born edi- many months from 1832 to 1834 and tors between the years 1822 and 1837. ackson began working on The Riot that took evidence from some sixty wit- “Given what was happening in Ireland at That Never Was in the spring of nesses.” the time, you would expect that as Irish- 2001. In 2002, at a conference in The Riot That Never Was is a very men they would be violently anti- Belfast, he gave a paper on some thorough examination of a tragic, but British,” he notes. “Surprisingly, they of his preliminary work. As one of the relatively minor event. It’s an interest- weren’t.” organizersJ he invited, as a guest speaker, ing read, but why is it important? Daniel Tracey was one of those Denise Bombardier. “I married her 11 “I’m not expecting Prince Charles three Irish editors. Dealing with him months later.” to come over and make an apology,” meant writing about the riot that had The book, dedicated to Bombardier James Jackson says with a smile, “but preceded his eventual election victory. (a writer/broadcaster who is much better truth is important.” Jackson thought it could be covered in a known in Quebec than her husband), Josephine Tey would certainly page or two. took six years to research and write. agree. Although it started to seem a most “All the historians that had written on unusual riot. “How often,” Jackson asks, the period were unanimous in saying Nick Fonda is the current president of “do the supporters of the winning side that there was a riot caused by Tracey’s the Richmond County Historical Society. start a riot?” The book on the Irish edi- Irish followers, and I had no reason to

Jacques Viger, "Plan de la Place d'Armes et de la Rue St 12 Jacques," 21 May 1832, Library and Archives Canada MARCH-APRIL 2010

The Gavazzi Riot Sectarian Violence on the Haymarket, 1853 by Robert N. Wilkins sk any Montrealer to tell you about one or whom were carrying concealed arms) were quickly es- more of this city’s infamous riots. Chances corted under the protection of Police Superintendent are that you will be told about the 1955 Lt. Col. William Ermatinger to the recently opened St Maurice Richard Riot, or the 1968 tumult at Lawrence Hall on Great St James Street. Paoli was so the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Parade, or, more recently, the badly injured that the Italian prelate signed the hotel violenceA and vandalism associated with two Stanley register for both of them: “Father Gavazzi and secre- Cup victories, one in 1986 and tary.” The former was assigned the other in 1993. Again, Room 12 and the latter Room chances are no one will men- 18. tion the Gavazzi Riot of 1853. Later that day, while Maybe it was just too long Gavazzi toured the city in the ago, but as we approach the company of the zealous Rev- 157th anniversary of this terri- erend Alexander Digby Camp- ble tragedy, it is perhaps worth bell, Mayor Charles Wilson remembering that in terms of was busily overseeing plans for loss of human life, it was by the maintenance of public order far and away the most serious in the event that trouble should civil disturbance ever to occur break out. Later that same in our city. month, the Montreal Transcript It was with bated breath reported that government au- that Montrealers awaited the thorities had cautioned Super- arrival in this city of the con- intendent Ermatinger to “make troversial preacher and Italian every arrangement for the nationalist, Alessandro preservation of the peace.. Gavazzi, who was to reach Those who had sponsored the Montreal from Quebec the Italian priest’s visit to Montreal morning of June 9, 1853. Ad- had originally been granted the mittedly the town’s anxiety city’s concert hall in Bonsec- was heightened by the fact ours Market for the three pub- that, only a few nights earlier, lic meetings which they had a riot had broken out in Que- envisioned. However, after bec as a result of a stirring ad- some intense lobbying by the dress by the Bologna-born Irish Roman Catholic commu- apostate, an expelled Barnabite monk. nity against the idea, the mayor reneged, forcing the His arrival in Canada East could not have come at Protestants to look elsewhere. They eventually came a more inopportune time as the provincial parliament up with Zion Congregational Church on Beaver Hall was involved in a heated debate over the ever thorny Hill (today where stands the “Banque Nationale” question of separate schools for the Roman Catholics building). of Canada West. Protestant cries of “papist domina- During the course of the day, Mayor Wilson met tion” and “Roman enslavement” could be heard once again with the Police Superintendent and his throughout the Canadian colony and events would later brother, the Chief of Police, Charles Oakes Ermatinger. show that the municipal authorities had reason to be The mayor wanted a minimum of fifty constables apprehensive about the imminent visit of such a notori- standing outside the Congregational Church, a figure ous and outspoken anti-Catholic prelate. which was later increased to eighty men with the inclu- So it was in this context that Alessandro Gavazzi, sion of a number of constables from the Water Police. still bearing the physical scars of the brawl in the Nevertheless, the municipal authorities were still ap- “Vieille Capitale,” arrived in Montreal on the steamer prehensive to the point where Wilson and Lt. Col. Er- “Québec” early in the morning of June 9. With him matinger personally visited the Quebec Gate Barracks was his badly injured personal secretary, Paoli, who (foot of St. Hubert Street) to request the availability of was carried on a stretcher from the ship. Gavazzi and troops from the garrison for later that day. his “delegation” of about fifty Orangemen (most of Although the calendar indicated that it was still

F Joubert, "Alessandro Gavazzi," 1859, Lombardi Historical Collection 13 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS spring, the temperature was that of a hot, very hot, July James Alexander, aide-de-camp to the commander of or August day. In fact, it seemed that that year Montre- the forces Lt. Gen. William Rowan, was present in the al had passed directly from the dead of winter to the church at the time. He arrived there from the cere- oppressive humidity of a moist continental summer, a monies at the wharf just after seven. Outside the phenomenon not totally unheard of in this city. Hand church, Alexander noted the presence of about forty bills and word-of-mouth spread throughout the city the policemen armed only with their blue batons. In the news that Alessandro Gavazzi had arrived from Que- square itself, he could clearly see bands of “rough- bec and was to speak that evening at Zion Church. The looking” men. night promised to be hot in more ways than one. Describing the event some four years later, Alexander wrote: “Father Gavazzi was addressing the he walk from St Lawrence Hall to Beaver audience in Zion Church from the front of a temporary Hall Hill was all of five minutes for Gavazzi, platform. On three sides, behind him, were seated an imposing and powerful man. Yet surely he about a dozen and a-half gentlemen, among whom could not have helped but wonder (in the were some clergymen. Gavazzi was conspicuous by his light of the events in Quebec) about the intentions of commanding figure, long hair, and black gown, with Tthose beginning to gather around the church at the foot large crosses on the breast and left shoulder, as he is of the hill. His presence in Montreal was especially usually seen in pictures. He spoke in English, and it irking to the Irish Catholic population, most of whom was not easy to follow him at first. He was discursive, lived in nearby Griffintown. As Gavazzi entered the stifling church building, a picquet of 100 men from the newly-arrived 26th Camero- nians was discreetly hidden in a small engine house at the foot of Haymarket Square (today Victoria Square). The regiment had just arrived in Montreal that very morning from a three year stint in Gibraltar. Not knowing the city, they had to be led from their barracks to the square by Mayor Wilson himself. Historian Elinor Kyte Senior wrote: “When they reached the engine house, the Cameronians were within a stone’s throw of the spot where British troops had marched into the city for the first time less than a hundred years earlier. A little to the south were the ruins of the Parliament House, a silent re- minder of what an angry Montreal crowd could do.” To complicate matters even further, most of the officers were at that very moment at the wharf saluting the depar- ture of the previous garrison, the 20th Regiment of Foot, who had just completed their three-year tour of duty in this city. By all accounts, Gavazzi’s lecture was star- tling, to say the least. Sir

James Cane, "Topographical and Pictoral of the 14 City of Montreal," 1846, McCord Museum, M12019 MARCH-APRIL 2010

and his accent was of course peculiar. He was calm, more than three hundred angry individuals had gath- energetic, and violent by turns”. Earlier in his memoir, ered. About twenty or thirty men left the building Alexander presented the Italian clergyman as “one of armed with clubs, hand pistols, fowling pieces, and the most remarkable men of the nineteenth century.” even one double-barrelled shotgun to confront them. Within the church, the mood was electric. The Shots from both sides were fired and a quick retreat windows on the south side of the building had been was made to the relatively-safe confines of Zion Con- boarded up in anticipation of problems from the gregational Church, with one individual, a Mr Griffintown slums below the hill, although the Catholic Broomer, severely wounded in the head. For a brief Institute had advised the faithful to ignore Gavazzi’s moment, Gavazzi stopped speaking only to continue invective. his virulent diatribe minutes later. Only a few seconds passed when the church was attacked by the infuriated “CATHOLICS OF MONTREAL!! mob. This time, Alexander left the building for good. Keep the peace, and let Gavazzi say what he will; do The situation outside was even more chaotic. The not disgrace yourselves by creating a disturbance for badly out-numbered police had been beaten off by the the sake of a worthless fellow; keep quiet, and take no rioters leaving both Ermatinger brothers injured and notice of what he says. Your Protestant fellow-citizens bleeding profusely from the head. For all intents and will be ashamed of their renegade friar yet. purposes, only the church party was left to defend the besieged building. Nevertheless, the rioters were even- By order of the Catholic Institute. S. O’Grady, Secre- tually repelled to the bottom of the square where they tary (Signed) were seen to be defiantly reorganizing. It was at this Montreal, June 9, 1853” moment that Alexander noted that he first saw the troops emerge from the nearby tiny engine house evertheless, for nearly an hour, the firebrand where they had been hidden away for a couple of very orator railed on about the “errors of Pop- unpleasant hours. With their heavy military wool gar- ery,” “the threat posed by Roman Catholic ments, they were perceived to be somewhat dazed and education,” and the “blessings of British confused but above all, suffocatingly hot. rule.” He had in no way toned downN his presentation in light of the events a few days earlier in Quebec. The tension grew but his captive Protestant audience maintained a stony and stoic si- lence throughout most of his dis- course. Alexander later wrote that the “whole scene and ap- pearance of the lecturer must have been startling to those with weak nerves.....I also wondered at the boldness of the man, and how little he seemed to regard his own life, or the peril he then was in, and of the dangers he had al- ready so frequently passed.” Suddenly, the inevitable hap- pened: a violent commotion due to the possible presence of a Catholic within the church itself spilled over into the streets where Gavazzi's signature from the St Lawrence Hall Hotel, courtesy of the National Archives of Canada, MG28, Series 3 - 10, Vol. 1. 15 Anonymous, "Gavazzi Riot, Haymarket Square," 1853, engraving, McCord Museum, MP-0000.812.2 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

In due time, after some initial military manoeuver- gained their composure and looked about. All around ing, two lines of fifty soldiers each were drawn up in them was to be seen human carnage. About a dozen in- such a way that they were back to back with each fac- dividuals were killed outright. Another forty or so were ing one of the two disputing religious parties. The two injured with many of those eventually succumbing to lines were about fifty yards apart. Generally speaking, their wounds in those pre-antiseptic days of medicine. the Catholics were at the bottom of the hill while the Alexander wrote that “persons from ten years of age to Protestants were to the north, clustered in and around sixty suffered, including gentlemen and workpeople, the church. Many, in fact, were just emerging from the with English, Scotch [sic], and Irish names, two ladies torrid edifice in question. It was dusk, nearly 8:00 were wounded, and some good people, though appar- P.M., there being no Daylight Savings Time in 1853. ently not dangerously wounded at the time, died after- Gavazzi and most of his party were still safely within wards with much suffering.” One of the more fortunate Zion Congregational Church and, therefore, totally un- individuals to survive his injuries was Hugh Mackay aware of what was about to who later in life helped found happen in Haymarket Square. Montreal’s Mackay Centre Suddenly, almost unbe- “for deaf mutes.” He was shot lievably, shots were fired in in the leg outside Zion Con- the direction of the soldiers, gregation Church and carried several missing the mark but the scar and, by all accounts, by little. Many rioters, un- the memory with him until his aware that the soldiers had al- death in 1889. ready loaded their muskets be- Alessandro Gavazzi was fore arriving on the scene, still in the basement of the then rushed towards the belea- church during the fusillade. guered troops. Mayor Wilson, He was discussing with the who was present on the square friends the latest incidents throughout the sweltering while all- along removing his evening, quickly and inaudi- religious apparel. Suddenly bly read the infamous Riot the shots were heard. Act. “Our Sovereign Lady the Gavazzi’s first reaction was to Queen chargeth and comman- attempt to head outside to see deth all persons, being assem- what had happened and if he bled, immediately to disperse could be of assistance (he themselves, and peaceably to had, after all, been chaplain to depart to their habitations or Garibaldi’s army in 1848!). to their lawful business, upon However, his Montreal ac- the pains contained in the Act quaintances, sensing that his made in the first year of King life would be in peril, blocked George the First, to prevent tumults and riotous assem- his path. He was eventually hustled from the building blies, God Save the Queen.” No sooner had he finished under an armed escort of fifty soldiers back to St when someone called out “Fire! Fire! Fire!” Many be- Lawrence Hall where an all-night watch was put lieve that it was the much agitated mayor himself who around the hotel. According to information found later gave the order but to this day, no one is certain. in Gavazzi’s autobiography, the thirty year old valise containing his very colourful soutane and coat was, in he lower division fired first and was immedi- the midst of the chaos, handed to someone who prom- ately reprimanded by Lieutenant Robert ised to forward them to the Italian prelate’s hotel. Nei- Quartley. However, no sooner had he done so ther were ever seen again! Meanwhile, the much hu- the upper division also opened with a volley miliated Mayor Wilson was also whisked away from and, at that point, the bugle sounded loudly to cease the bloody scene to his home by the same picquet of Tfire. The whole totally unexpected affair lasted no soldiers and a guard was then placed around it as well. more than half a minute. Throughout the night, a palpable tension could be Sir James Alexander observed the incident first- felt everywhere within the shocked city. Not suprising- hand and noted that “some of those about me laughed, ly, there was a great deal of irony found in the tragedy and thought that the troops had fired blank cartridge.” that many found very difficult to overlook. The newly Sadly, nothing could have been further from the truth arrived Cameronians – a regiment which was two as nearby a young boy of ten, the son of Mr William thirds Protestant and one third Catholic, and all under Hutchinson, fell over, his leg being struck by a bullet. Presbyterian command - had killed and wounded, for Amputation was performed the next day with death all intents and purposes, only Protestants. Not to be taking the young lad shortly thereafter. forgotten of course was the fact the mayor, who was With a sudden eerie silence settling in, people re- strongly suspected of having given the order to fire,

William Notman, "Interior, Zion Church," 1878, 16 McCord Museum, II-50277.1 MARCH-APRIL 2010

was a Roman Catholic. In short, neither the incident nor the regiment was to be forgotten or forgiven quick- ly by this city’s Protestant community. Indeed, in the July 15, 1853 edition of the Montreal Witness, a re- porter still felt angry enough to write that on June 9 in Haymarket Square “defenceless Protestants had been massacrated [sic] by a rabid Popish Mayor.” The following day, Friday, June 10, Alessandro Gavazzi remained sequestered in Henry Hogan’s hotel on Great St James Street. There was still the question of the other two lectures (as mentioned previously three had been planned) upon which to decide. Delega- tion after delegation came to attempt to sway the flam- boyant Italian nationalist to their point of view. In the end, after much equivocation, Gavazzi thought it best to return to Montreal another day (he never did) and to leave for New York as soon as possible. This the ex- Barnabite did the following morning when on June 11 at 5:00 under heavy military protection he left the St Lawrence Hall by a side door, again carrying his still- injured secretary in his arms. A closed cab took both of them to the dock where they caught the steamer-ferry “Iron Duke” for Laprairie. They arrived by train in New York City that very evening.

ot surprisingly, a Coroner’s Inquest was held, although the authorities hesitated in convoking it for fear of re-opening sectarian wounds. Nevertheless, it sat for some twen- ty-five days, ending its deliberations on July 11. It was, byN all accounts, impartially chaired by Messrs. Jones hat.” When she later reproached him for causing trou- and Coursolle, the two coroners for the city. It heard ble, he responded with a smile: “It’s nineteen years from some 106 witnesses and in the end could not su- since I took the lousy shilling [enlisted], but all that persede its own religious divisions (nineteen jurors: time I had not the satisfaction I have this night.” A few ten Catholic and nine Protestants). Evidence seemed to moments later, she saw him again, this time with two point to the notion that the division facing the Protes- or three others, one of whom said: “It was not him tants (north) who were still in the process of leaving gave the word, it was the Holy Virgin.” the church intentionally fired high in order to prevent The issue and tension associated with that unfortu- injury. However, the scene of the tragedy was a hill – nate day’s events in this city’s history remained present Beaver Hall Hill – and this fact weighed heavily for several years to come. According to historian against the other. Autopsies also revealed that some Robert Sylvain’s 1962 biography of Alessandro people on both sides of the religious divide were killed Gavazzi, one of the injured parties, a Mr Stevenson, by small arms fire and not by larger military “balls.” who was severely injured in the shoulder at the time, The question which always came back to haunt the even under took legal action in 1857 – four years later inquest, however, was who exactly gave the order to – against the then former Mayor Wilson. His suit was fire upon the crowd. Protestants steadfastly believed in the due course dropped for lack of evidence. The is- that it was the “papist” mayor while Roman Catholics sue then as to who gave the order to fire was never re- had their own theory which was articulated by a recent ally resolved. arrival to Montreal, a widowed school teacher from As for Gavazzi, he never came back to Montreal. Canada West by the name of Margaret Brown Parker. He did, however, return to his beloved Italy, defiantly According to her testimony before the Coroner’s In- establishing a small Christian Church directly across quest in early July, she was standing between the two the Tiber from St. Peter’s in Rome. His church still divisions to one side of the crowd in Haymarket stands today. He died in the Eternal City in January of Square. Mrs Parker continued by saying that an 1889 and is buried in that city’s Protestant Cemetery. unidentified man in the crowd gave the order to fire as well as any commander could have. She described him Robert N. Wilkins is a local historian and freelance as “a common Irishman...who wore a blue coat, made writer. His "blog" is found at www.forgoodmeasure.tk in the real old Irish fashion, corduroy moleskin pan- and he can be reached at montre- taloons that came to his boots, and a home made straw [email protected] or by telephone at 514-524- 5247. Alessandro Gavazzi, Montreal Witness, 8 June 1853 17 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

HIGH GROUND Early encounters with Mount Royal: Part One

by Rod MacLeod ranted, it’s not very , William view of the valley, unlike the Euro- much of a mountain. Murray. Ironically, the Murray peans who preferred to be near the wa- Visitors from BC take family are better commemorated ter. Even so, Maisonneuve chose the one look at it and to the west, where a third peak highest ground around in which to laugh, thinking of their own (the shortest of the three, at 201 plant his cross, so that object could Gmagnificent coastal range and metres) derived its name from shine its spiritual beacon as far as pos- pitying what Montrealers have the Murrays’ home, West Mount, sible. His bosses the Sulpicians, who made out of a molehill. which also became the name of acquired the title of seigneurs of the Is- But the significance of Mount the separate municipality to the land of Montreal in 1663, had their Royal lies not in its size but rather in west of . Be- headquarters in town but built a fort on its cultural weight and geographical tween West Mount and the main the slopes of the mountain where they proximity to one of Canada’s largest summit there is a gap in the could conduct missionary work in iso- urban concentrations. Arguably, no ridge, cut by the path of the lation. Ville Marie’s gradual shift to other city in the world has such a big principal north-westward-head- commercial preoccupations was sym- chunk of relative wilderness practical- ing artery, Côte des Neiges Road. bolized by the development of farm- ly at its centre —although that this is Apart from its unusual geography, land on the slopes of the mountain still the case in the early twenty first the mountain has tremendous mytho- once the threat from the Iroquois had century is in no small measure due to logical importance for Montreal, be- been neutralized early in the eighteenth the vigilance of “Les amis de la mon- ginning with the site of — century. Prominent fur traders, having tagne” and other watchdogs. New which, if not located on the southern made their pile, acquired land from the York’s , London’s many slope on what is now the McGill cam- Sulpicians —becoming “censitaires” “lungs,” Berlin’s Tiergarten, Paris’s pus, most likely lay on the northern under the terms of feudal tenure—and Jardin du Luxembourg, and Madrid’s side. In either case, its early Iroquoian created rural estates where they could Retiro, are all lovely, but they are flat inhabitants clearly positioned their vil- be gentlemen farmers, at any rate in —and, whatever genuine dangers may lage so it would have a commanding the summer months. lurk within them, they are not wild. Mount Royal has preserved its wild state, at least in pockets, despite being —or, perhaps, because it has been — prime urban real estate, with a view.

t’s a mountain with three peaks, if we can call them that. This feature has had a pronounced effect on the development of both Mount RoyalI itself and the city around it. The main summit, really a ridge but 233 metres at its high- est point, rises fairly steeply from the downtown area and then slopes gently downwards to the north. Its progress is inter- rupted by a spur of the ridge whose peak (211 metres) is now known as Outremont but which for many years went by the name of Mount Murray, after the long-serving president of the

Mountain sketch showing the topographical layout, mid 18 nineteenth century, McCord Museum M9944 MARCH-APRIL 2010

With the acquisition—or more sig- nificantly the occupation—of mountain land, the high ground above Montreal became politically charged. The cross and the Sulpicians marked the moun- tain as Christian space, but encroach- ing private ownership raised the spec- tre of profit to be made from its re- sources. Obviously, property owners could make full use of the crops that grew on the mountain slope and the timber that could be cut at the summit —and, it followed, they could prose- cute poachers or anyone who confused this terrain with the natural wilderness much of it resembled. The question of rights and access was resolved only in the 1880s with the creation of Mount Royal Park, which meant the moun- taintop, at any rate, was public space. The park created new problems, how- ever, as working people argued that it was really a playground for the wealthy who lived closest to it or who could drive there in carriages, while the city’s elite worried that too easy popular access via funiculars and street railways would destroy the park’s natu- ral beauty. This tension continues to this day—though the park thrives.

his being Montreal, the mountain has also been subject to rival claims from linguistic communi- ties, though rarely articulated with any fervour. One major exception T Bosworth referred to Mount Royal day’s Downtown), would have seemed was the St Jean Baptiste festivities of 1975 and 1976 which left Mount as a “very conspicuous object” in farfetched to say the least. Even so, Royal the worse for garbage—and, his 1839 Hochelaga Depicta, he Bosworth was writing on the threshold symbolically, several monuments might well have been describing of enormous change, for Canada over- in the adjoining Mount Royal the city’s English-speaking com- all but certainly for Mount Royal. Cemetery the worse for vandal- munity, prominent in its isolation For years, artists had depicted ism—much to the distress of the amid the vast plain of Francopho- Mount Royal as a huge, monumental city’s Anglophone population, nie stretching into the distance — mass overshadowing the town with al- among others. At that time, the beginning with the ironically- most Vesuvian menace. This tendency mountain retained the Anglophone named Plateau Mont-Royal. was a product of eighteenth century ro- aura it had acquired over a century Of course, Bosworth was actually manticism: nature was imbued with a and a half earlier. Its development referring to how prominent the moun- sense of the “Sublime,” reflecting Eu- as inhabitable space since the early tain was when viewed from the town. ropeans’ fascination for, and consider- nineteenth century, including the If people looked out—and they did, no- able fear of, the majesty of the natural creation of the park, was largely tably from —they could world in exotic and uncivilized places the work of Anglophones. Both the not help but see the mountain’s bulk such as the New World, the South Seas, and West- rising ahead of them. Although not all the Swiss Alps and the Scottish High- mount have been famously Anglo- that far away, it was a different world: lands. If the opposite of nature was phone, while the Anglo-Protestants rough, mysterious, impenetrable. In civilization, Thomas Patten’s iconic in the municipality of Outremont 1839, the idea that it could ever be de- 1762 view shows Montreal as a very only lost their majority status veloped as a place to live, much less tiny bit of civilization indeed—which around 1900. When Newton that the mountain’s lower slopes would of course it was. Seven decades later it become the city’s commercial heart (to- was not all that different, although the

Detail of Louis Charland's 1801 plan of Montreal in anticipation of the demolition of the city walls, showing the faubourgs, the mountain farms, 19 and the Sulpicians' fort (top left). QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

(Later, the CPR tracks would run along the line of this escarpment, and later still the Ville Marie expressway.) These lanes led to farmhouses, which were the summer homes of the landowners (if they chose to keep house there) or the year-round homes of farmers (if the landowners chose to lease out their es- tates). Just above the escarpment, the gentler sloping land lent itself to graz- ing, while further up the more sharply inclined ground served as orchard; shel- tered by the ridge above, these orchards were famous for their fertility. The arable portions of these estates were ex- tensive, but in most cases the largest part by far was mountain wilderness, useful essentially as a source of timber and fuel. sense of nature had changed. Instead of tain itself, however, remained essential- depicting Montreal as a South Sea is- ly an obstacle—at least so far as urban or several generations, land, as Patten does, Frederick Clin- development was concerned. these landowners had been ton’s 1839 view from the opposite side This modest urban sprawl barely largely fur traders who had of the river shows the city spread along registered with the gentlemen farmers made their fortunes as the water’s edge and the mountain ris- whose estates ran up Mount Royal’s voyageurs or members of large ing dramatically, but unthreateningly, southern slopes. In keeping with New Ftrading companies; a mountain es- behind it. The mood is no longer sub- France tradition, which persisted long tate was the investment opportunity lime but pastoral. Nature, if hardly less after the British “conquest,” these of choice for such men. By the end extensive compared to the city, has be- farms were long and narrow: most were of the eighteenth century, the lead- come civilized. a couple of hundred metres in width but ing figures in the fur trade were Over the course of these seven they extended up to the mountain’s Scots, who had gained commercial decades, Montreal itself had evolved summit and in many cases over and prominence in large part through from a (not terribly well-defended) cor- down the other side. Access to these marriage. James McGill, Simon ner of the Empire to a small New World farms was via lanes running up from St McTavish and Alexander Macken- town whose defining feature was the Antoine Street. “Up” was the operative zie all married the daughters of mountain that gave it its name. When word, as a veritable escarpment sepa- prominent Francophone fur traders the defences finally came down be- rated the street and its faubourg from and all acquired mountain estates tween 1804 and 1817, they were re- the southern edges of these farms. —though Mackenzie was an entire- placed by broader streets than the town had previously seen—Craig, McGill, St James—and squares, such as the Champ de Mars and the Haymarket (later renamed Victoria Square), which not coincidently afforded commanding views of the mountain. Without walls, the city literally spilled over into what had once been “faubourgs”—medieval- style extramural settlements: Ste Marie to the east, Recollets to the west, St Laurent to the north and St Antoine to the north-west. People built even fur- ther along the main access routes, in- cluding the Lachine Road, which led along the canal westward past the rapids, and St Antoine Street, which zigzagged up the side of the mountain to connect with Côte des Neiges Road and the parish of the same name on the other side of the mountain. The moun-

Thomas Patten, An East View of Montreal, 1762, print, Mc- 20 Cord Museum, M19848. Frederick Clinton, Montreal from the opposite bank, 1839, watercolour, private collection MARCH-APRIL 2010 ly absent landlord. McGill, for exam- via a wide clean path. The image belies gal proceedings to challenge the Royal ple, married Charlotte Guillemin, wid- the estate’s turbulent history in the in- Institution’s claim to the estate. They ow of Amable Desrivières, whose son tervening three decades since McGill’s had ten years in which to establish a François owned one of the largest es- death. In his will, McGill left Burnside college, and they did—in theory, on pa- tates on the mountainside with probably to the Royal Institution for the Ad- per, by drafting a charter for McGill the most comfortable house. McGill’s vancement of Learning for use as a College in 1821 (McGill died 1813). own estate lay some distance to the college, but litigation held this up and This wasn’t good enough for Desriv- east, and was relatively small, extend- in the 1840s the property was still in ières, however, and he continued to ing only part way up the side of the dispute fight for another decade or more, bank- mountain. By contrast, the Mackenzie, rupting himself and his extended family Desrivières and McTavish lands ex- he Burnside engraving also in the process before dying, bitter and tended up to the summit wilderness and shows a curious structure defeated by the colonial establishment some distance down the other side; the higher up the mountain, as and its British institutions. By the heirs of these estates would negotiate well as another farmhouse 1830s a new generation of entrepre- with the city for the creation of Mount at the extreme left. Both belonged neurs began to occupy the mountain- Royal Park eight decades later. toT Simon McTavish: the original side, the most important being the Of all the Scots fur traders, McGill house, with which he was apparent- building contractor (not yet sugar man- took his role as a mountain landowner ly unsatisfied, and the huge man- ufacturer) , who pur- the most seriously, even though his sion he undertook to build on the chased the Desrivières estate. He was main residence remained in town. He higher ground which was often re- joined by Thomas Phillips, John Easton called his mountain property Burnside, ferred to as the McTavish castle. Mills, Thomas McKay, and James Reid, after the small stream (“burn”) running He died of a fever before it was all of whom bought portions of the old across it, and appears to have valued finished and work stopped at once, estates. Far above them, off Côte des the farmhouse and its surrounding gar- the castle ruins remaining for over Neiges Road, John Samuel McCord dens and orchards as welcome retreat half a century until they were used built a summer home, Temple Grove, a —as well as a working farm. One fa- to build other mansions. In keep- classical villa set among the summit mous portrait of James McGill shows ing with the Romantic flavour of so wilderness. The mountain had become the mountain estate in the background, much of his life, McTavish was almost entirely Anglophone. as if, despite his significant accom- buried amid the trees above these The summit remained an all-but- plishments as merchant, politician and ruins, and his ghost naturally impenetrable forest, visited by wood- urban planner, it was Burnside that he haunted the area for generations. cutters in the pay of landowners and by considered his greatest achievement. The departure of McTavish and trespassers out to gather or poach. A The estate also figures in an 1842 en- Mackenzie left a great deal of unoccu- number of early nineteenth-century vis- graving by John McNaughton, showing pied land on the mountainside and only itors to Montreal made a journey to the a typical New France farmhouse with one significant landowner: François summit as part of the tourist rounds, sharply sloping tin roof, with gardens Desrivières. McGill’s step-son allowed and recorded their experiences. Most and outbuildings, surrounded by a neat his mother to enjoy Burnside until her commented on how difficult it was to fence and connected to the town below death in 1816, whereupon he began le- reach the top, and on its wild state; one American traveller had a challenging encounter with a snake. All were struck by the views down over the farmlands, the streets, the church tow- ers, the river, and the distant Montere- gian hills. Even in the late 1830s, this view would have been much the same as that of over a century earlier save in small architectural details and of course the absence of the city wall. Within a few short years, however, the world would turn and the town would begin in earnest its relentless march up the side of the mountain.

Rod MacLeod is the author of the forthcoming A Very Conspicuous Ob- ject: Mount Royal and the Making of Anglo-Protestant Montreal, 1836-189.

John H NcNaughton, "Burnside", residence of the Late James McGill, Montreal, 1842, engraving, McCord Museum, V-23486 21 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

MONTEREGIAN HOTSPOTS Those storied lumps of the St. Lawrence plain: Part 1

by Sandra Stock

t is impossible to separate man- gion. us like Pompeii. Neither will its sis- made and natural landscape in the The name, Monteregian, comes ters – Mont Saint-Bruno, Mont highly developed St Lawrence from the Latin Mons Regius (Royal Saint-Hilaire, Rougemont, Mont Lowlands of Quebec. There has Mountain) that gave Saint-Grégoire, , been over four hundred years of Euro- to Mount Royal. The town of Ville , nor Ipean settlement, with intense agriculture Marie, at its foot, and originally Mont Megantic. This last named is and industry, preceded by probably eight quite far from it on the shore of the now included by geologists in the thousand years of aboriginal effects on river, later expanded and grew into group even though it is at some dis- the land, the last thousand years of our present Montreal, conveniently tance from the others. These hills are which was partially sedentary and agri- the same name in both languages. scientifically classified as igneous cultural as well. The other hills on the plain, in satel- intrusions – masses of originally ac- However, the great flatness of lite fashion, are known by the same tive that crystallized slowly this area is most remarkably alleviat- general name, now applied to nearly over vast eons. The surrounding soft- ed by the . Count- the whole region southeast of Mon- er sedimentary rock of the plain ing the most famous, Montreal Is- treal (the Monteregie). eroded away through the action of land's Mount Royal, (233 metres or These great lumps – that loom water and ice, exposing these intru- 764 feet in height) there are probably large mainly because of the sur- sions. nine official hills and also several rounding flatness – were never, nev- Although they have a similar other hilly features that should be in- er real . Mount Royal will surface appearance, the small moun- cluded in any description of this re- never erupt like Vesuvius and drown tains at Oka, Rigaud and St Andrew’s

Mont St-Gregoire (photo: Ghislain Fortin) 22 MARCH-APRIL 2010

East were formed from much earlier and started his career in geology in peror Napoleon III and a knighthood rocks, previous to the Monteregians. Wales. He was selected to do the Ge- from Queen Victoria. After retire- There is also at least one known un- ological Survey of Canada and re- ment, Logan settled in Wales where exposed near turned to Montreal. The office of the his geologic work had begun and he Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu that is not Survey was located on the present died in 1875. (yet) visible near the surface. Per- site of the Palais de Justice from Logan's vast collection of jour- haps in several million years... 1852 to 1881. nals, field notes, maps and drawings Where did they come from? Logan traveled through what is called Written in Stone, are available Meet the Great Meteor Hotspot now Ontario and Quebec and was the on line from the Archives of Canada Track, also known as the New Eng- first person to scientifically examine site. land Hotspot. Hotspots are fairly A rare gem-like carbonate min- common on Earth. The most fa- eral, called weloganite mous is most likely the Hawaiian (W.E.Logan) was named after him. Island Hotspot, a comparatively He found it first in the Francon young and frisky hotspot that is Quarry, now closed, in Montreal creating new land as the Pacific and also at Mont Saint-Hilaire. The plate moves over it. The oldest is- tallest mountain in Canada is also lands are volcanically inactive now named after him. Mount Logan in and suffering from natural erosion. the Yukon rises to 5,959 metres The newer ones (like the Big Island (19,551 feet) and of course is still with Mauna Loa ) are still rising as these are new growing creating land surface from lava mountains, not the modest igneous spews and the very newest are still intrusions of the St Lawrence under the sea, but volcanically ac- Plain. It is interesting to note that tive and growing. The same following the death of former process, but under a continent, hap- Prime Minister Pierre Elliott pened here to form the Montere- Trudeau, the then prime minister, gian Hills. The hotspot is now Jean Chrétien, wanted to rename somewhere out in the Atlantic Mount Logan after Trudeau. There Ocean after it left Quebec and was such an outcry from Yukoners, “moved” through New Hampshire geologists, mountain climbers and and Maine. (It is the tectonic plates others that this plan had to be that move, not the hotspots.) dropped and another mountain in The hills were created in the British Columbia was chosen in- Cretaceous Period (125 million stead. years ago, plus or minus) although the Hotspot itself had already had Mont Saint-Bruno effects in what is now the area of James Bay and Nunavut, 196 mil- he closest Mon- lion years ago in the early Jurassic. teregian hill to the The igneous activity laid down island of Montre- huge reserves of minerals, some of the terrain, especially the Laurentian al is Mont Saint- which have been mined. There aren't Mountains, the Valley and Bruno, 23 kilometres (14 any known signs of the Hotspot as the Gaspé Peninsula. He also studied miles)T east on the South the area of the present Laurentian the Adirondack Mountains of New Shore. It is lower than Shield passed over it. It is probably York. He came close, but not quite, Mount Royal, at 213 me- that these very old rocks were too to formulating our recent knowledge tres (700 feet) but covers hard for igneous activity to come of tectonic plates and continental a much larger surface close to the surface. The first break- drift. This was not discovered until a area, much of which is through was, as we know, Mount century after Logan's death. natural woodland, and Royal. Logan wrote and published his some of which is recre- The first person to closely study journals of the Survey, illustrated ational land and apple or- the formation of the Hills was Sir with his own (very good) drawings chards that are part of a William Logan, the founder of the and maps. He had the first geologic Quebec agricultural re- Geological Survey of Canada in map of Canada printed in time for search station. 1842, and its director for 27 years. the Great Paris Exhibition of 1855 Mont Saint-Bruno was part of Logan was born in Montreal and as- and so impressed the learned world the old seigneury of Montarville, es- sociated with McGill University. He of Europe that he received both the tablished in 1710, with the first attended the University of Edinburgh Legion of Honor from French Em- seigneur being Pierre Boucher de

William Notman, Sir William Edmond Logan, 1865, McCord Museum, I-16534.1 23 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

Mont Saint-Grégoire (aka Mount Johnson)

ont Saint-Gre- goire, near the town of the same name, ten kilometres (six miles) Meast of Saint-Jean-sur- Richelieu, is 251 metres high (823 feet) and an al- most symmetrical pyrami- dal shape. This hill is nearly all privately owned with a recreation- al climbing business, a sugar bush enterprise and some small wine produc- ing farms at its foot. Even Boucherville. It later passed to the Centre of the park (SEPAQ – So- so, it does appear to be Bruneau family and, after the cieété des établissements de plein air environmentally protect- seigneurs left in 1815, was operated du Québec), and also where apples ed and still maintains a by the municipality of Boucherville. and regional produce are for sale in fair amount of forest Eventually, Saint-Bruno de Mon- season. There is a ski school, a cover. As it's in a heavi- tarville became its own municipality downhill ski tow and extensive ly developed agricultural and, in the twentieth century, moved crosscountry ski trails. There is a district with few trees, it from mainly agriculture to a subur- snow walking trail around Lac looms higher and larger ban residential area. Much of the Seigneurial, one of five small lakes than it really is. The land on the mountain had been pur- on the mountain. The natural flora recreational site refers chased by wealthy Montrealers. This and fauna is protected and even to it as “a short moun- was quite beneficial as land was pre- though Mont Saint-Bruno is in a sub- tain, but it offers a quick served and the heritage of the moun- urban setting, its natural heritage has hike to a splendid view.” tain respected. In the 1927 account been preserved. Mont Saint-Grégroire was named of remaining historic buildings in for Pope Gregory the Great (the local Quebec, Old Manors, Old Houses, parish name) but has also had other published by the Historic Monu- ments Commission of the Province of Quebec, we read in regard to the old stone mill on Mont Saint Bruno:

The Montarville Seigniorial Mill, Mount Saint Bruno: The first building on this site was a wooden mill, built in 1710 by Pierre Boucher, first seigneur of Mon- tarville. In 1741 reconstruction in stone was carried out by Réné Boucher de la Bruère, seigneur at that time. The entire seigneury of Montarville was acquired in 1897 by Messrs. Pease, Drummond and Birks, of Montreal, and the old mill was then restored and transformed into a chapel, on the walls of which Mr. Birks has placed seven bronze tablets recounting the history of the old manor.

This mill is now the Visitors

Alexander Henderson, Montarville manor house, Mount St. Bruno, c.1870, 24 McCord Museum, MP-0000.1828.57. Henry Richard Bunnett, Sir John Johnson Vault, Mount Johnson, 1885, McCord Museum, M381 MARCH-APRIL 2010 names in its history. It was originally John remained in Canada and the part of the vast domains of Sir John land was sold, the site became neg- Johnson (1741 to 1830) from 1795 lected and was looted sometime dur- and the mountain was called Mount ing World War I. From 1950, it was AN INNER GRACE Johnson until 1923. Previous to that completely destroyed by bulldozer THE LIFE STORY OF DR. there doesn't appear to be any offi- and passed from sight – at least on cial name although Mont Saint Gré- the surface. MAUDE ABBOTT AND THE goire and also Mont Monnoir are However, there is hope for a re- ADVENT OF HEART mentioned. stored future for the Johnson family URGERY The story of Sir John Johnson, vault site. In recent years there has S his family, his support of the Loyal- been a renewed interest in local his- by Elizabeth L. Abbott ist side in the American Revolution, tory, started by the Société d'histoire his acquisition of the Seigneuries of du Haut-Richelieu, the Société de Argenteuil and of Monnoir (contain- restauration du patrimoine Johnson ing Mount Johnson), his several (based in Saint-Grégoire) and the Sir manor houses, and the final inglori- John Johnson branch of the United ous fate of the Johnson family burial Empire Loyalist Association of vault on the Mount, certainly could Canada. In 1999 an extensive profes- provide material for a blockbuster sional archeological survey and ex- historical novel or film. This is very ploratory dig was done at the site un- much a tale of great achievement and der the aegis of the Ministère de la prominence and then a total decline culture et communications du into the cliché – the dustbin of histo- Québec and it was reported that “part ry. This is in spite of recent efforts to of the vault foundation was in place resuscitate both the story and the re- and in a good state of preservation.” maining artifacts of the vault. Bones were discovered of seven in- Johnson was, in his time, a very dividuals, three of whom were young famous Loyalist leader. He was the children and one very old adult – son of Sir William Johnson, first Johnson himself, we can assume. baronet of New York, who had had There were few artifacts beyond an extensive domain in the British items like nails. Everything was in settlement of the Mohawk River Val- chaos – because of the looting and ley. Johnson Père was the Inspector subsequent destruction – and all the General for Indian Affairs and re- skulls were missing. Skulls are the sponsible for the British alliance main target of looters. with the Iroquois, many of whom At present, the site is controlled came with him to Canada as Loyal- by the CIME (Centre d’interprétation ists in the American Revolution. du milieu écologique, a not-for-prof- Another way to find heritage Johnson built his manor house, it local ecological group) and before online before 1830, at Saint-Mathias de further development as a restored Rouville (now Saint-Mathias-sur- historical site, there has to be clear- Those of you who are already into Richelieu in the MRC of Rouville). ance of the deed and also a right of electronic reading will be pleased to His extensive land holdings reached passage (servitude) from the munici- to this area, then an economically in- pality of Saint-Grégoire to allow ac- note that Elizabeth Abbott’s new portant location on the Chambly cess. At least it looks as if there will biography of her ancestor Maude Basin of the Richelieu River. Agri- be preservation, even though the ac- Abbott is now available on Ama- cultural goods, lumber and so on tual plans have not been fully zon. The book can be downloaded were shipped out by boat along the formed. to a Kindle or other electronic de- river. However, the coming of the Part Two of this article will cov- vice for $14 by going to railway passed Saint-Mathias by and er the rest of the Hills. www.amazon.com/An-Inner- took away its lucrative trade. The Grace-ebook/dp/B003DA4G9K house still survives as a private resi- Sources: dence after passing through several Archives of Canada, online The author also has a limited num- owners. Raymonde Gauthier, Les Manoirs du ber of audio versions of her book at The burial vault functioned from Quebec, Editeur officiel de the same price, which can be pur- 1812 to 1841 and faced south: proba- Québec/FIDES, 1976 chased by contacting her directly at bly as a recollection of the old John- Ls-A. Proulx, Vieux manoirs, [email protected] son lands in New York State. As vieilles maisons, Québec, Imprimeur none of the direct descendants of du Roi, 1927 ( English translation,

25 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

QUEBEC FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Quebec’s Anglophone Genealogy Society Part Four: On-Line Databases by Robert Dunn FHS has made available all of its databases To date we have about 56,000 names in our database on its website for its members. Our indexes and we are approximately half way through the tran- include church registers for Non-Catholic scription of the register. Births / Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, Our Census databases cover only a select number as well as Quebec Land Grants by the Crown, of areas including the Lachute area and several villages SeigneuryQ owners and tenants, 1851 and 1881 censuses and Townships in the Huntingdon area.. and Cemetery Headstone Inscriptions. Our Cemetery Headstone databases are the fastest Our coverage is quite extensive and we are work- growing of all our databases. Our coverage of the East- ing diligently to cover almost all areas of Quebec ern Townships is quite extensive. We will have exten- adding data as fast as our transcribers provide us with sive coverage of many areas of Quebec complete in the it. Our indexes were created by QFHS volunteers and near future. transcribers and we believe they are the best available QFHS provides all day seminars for helping our anywhere. members use the QFHS website effectively. As well, The following table shows the extent of our cover- we hold seminars on how to get the most out of re- age as of May 1, 2009. (Note that Montreal and Que- searching using the internet. bec City include surrounding areas.) QFHS has also put its library catalogue on its website. It includes key word search capability provid- ing an easy way to find the type of books available in our over 8,000 book library. Note that borrowing books is restricted to members. QFHS databases are an im- portant source of information for genealogy research in Quebec. Our goal is to link BMD information with Census data and with Cemetery indexes. Our plans for the future will be the subject of another article.

Come and see us or visit our website. Guests are al- ways welcome.

Quebec Family History Society 173 Cartier Avenue, Pointe Claire, Québec www.qfhs.ca 514-695-1502 e still have considerable work ahead and email: [email protected] our goal is to form alliances and partner- ships with other organizations to com- plete our BMD coverage. We encourage anyone or any organization to work with us to provide highW quality indexes of Quebec Registers. Volunteers for transcribing are always needed. Please contact us for more information. As well, organ- izations that would like to work with us are encouraged to contact us. Quebec Land Grants by the Crown are complete 1790 to 1890. There are 35,000 names in the database Seigneury owners and tenants are a work in progress. Seigneury owners, the Crown lands and Trois Rivières are complete, while the districts of Quebec and Montreal are in the process of being transcribed.

26 MARCH-APRIL 2010

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO WE ARE... MWOS’ multicultural Mikado by Rod MacLeod ow Montreal is this? A Greek-inspired Indi- non-exotic characters with quaint names. an setting of a Japanese-themed play with There has also been a Hot Mikado and a Swing Mika- some Trinidadian music presented by Scot- do, which have deviated considerably from the spirit of tish, Irish, French, Jewish, Chilean, Chi- the original, but with much success. And of course nese, Sri Lankan, German, Polish, Portuguese and there is the “tradition” of updating topical references BlackH performers arrayed in Italian-designed costumes so that contemporary politicians and media stars are against a Basque-built backdrop. lampooned rather than Victorian ones —especially in If you are thinking the famous “List” song Gilbert & Sullivan’s where people that socie- Mikado, you must have ty can clearly do without second sight. The play typically include annoy- doesn’t often involve ing pop singers and this much intrinsic di- those who make thought- versity—although such less use of electronic de- diversity is of course vices. The play’s adapt- part and parcel of to- ability is its great day’s multicultural soci- strength. ety where people are Setting Mikado in comfortable enough India, however, is a ma- with their own identities jor departure, but one to cross the cultural that director Stephanie floor and take part in a Pitsiladis was eager to delightful pastiche pursue in the interests of whose ultimate aim is to bringing it an extra layer poke fun at British, or in of freshness. Pitsiladis, this case Canadian, who trained in Montreal foibles. and has performed in The foibles part is and New York, typical Gilbert & Sulli- teaches Theatre Concen- van, although because it tration at Laval Liberty is it works High School, where her on an especially elevat- teenage cast perform on- ed plain: the play is a stage miracles—recently masterpiece of comedy, in the Canadian premiere a tightly-wound farce in of the musical Curtains which characters as- and the harrowing sume disguises, fake Laramie Project about their own deaths, and the evils of homophobia. invent improbable stories to escape unwanted expres- Clearly not afraid of a challenge, Pitsiladis carefully sions of affection as well as imminent and painful exe- considered the proposal by the Montreal West Operatic cution. Along the way there are countless jabs at social Society to direct its 2010 production of Mikado, which ambition, marriage conventions, and political corrup- meant getting a couple of dozen players of varying ex- tion. The play’s exotic (Japanese) setting serves all the perience ranging in age from 12 to mid-60s to convey more effectively to highlight the preposterousness of the brilliance of Gilbert’s comedy without seeming like Western institutions. And it is set to gorgeous music. every other version. From the beginning she knew it Mind you, Mikado is often not presented with the would not be a stilted production where the chorus traditional Japanese sets and costumes conceived by stands in unmoving rows; if she could get stiff teens to WS Gilbert in the 1880s; while the original idea had strut and spin on stage she could surely get semi-pro- been to attract audiences with exoticism, many direc- fessionals, theatre students and passionate hams to do tors have opted for modern dress or another period set- so. But the vision needed something startling to give it ting and let the humour flow from the juxtaposition of an edge. Three Little Maids from School: Jenne Carey, Allison Devery, Liza Selvarajah (Photo: Andres MacLeod-Cerrolaza) 27 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

Watching Mike Leigh’s film Topsy-Turvey, which first language isn’t English (which is the case for sev- traces the inspiration for Mikado to the late nineteenth- eral members of the company), although getting century fascination for all things Japanese, Pitsiladis Gilbert’s fast-paced lines and extravagant prose out in wondered if there was a way to reproduce this sort of time to Sullivan’s rhythms requires considerable ease fascination in today’s terms. She thought of another in the English language —as does following the play film, Slumdog Millionaire, which confirmed how far from the audience, although as with all else in today’s modern Western audiences have been drawn to the id- cultural scene audiences are linguistically diverse. ioms of India, especially Bollywood. The notion of Bollywood Mikado is a bold experiment that will Bollywood was the clincher: already a stylization of reward theatre-goers willing to sample something a lit- Indian culture, it was something that could be emulated tle different. The variety of shapes, sizes, sounds and without seeming to be making fun of India itself and complexions that appear on stage (to say nothing of the running the risk of seeming offensive or even simply creative forces behind it) is what marks Bollywood lame. It would allow the costume and set designers to Mikado as a product of modern, multicultural Montre- get their teeth into a real challenge, and for some in- al. triguing choreography with a sub-continental flair. And so, Bollywood Mikado was born. The Montreal West Operatic Society’s Bollywood Elena Cerrolaza got down to work creating a set Mikado will be performed on 29 & 30 April, 1 May, featuring decorative arches and columns modelled on and 7 & 8 May at 7:30pm and on 2& 9 May at 1:30pm those at the Anup palace in Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, at the Parkhaven Theatre in Côte St-Luc (5785 Rajasthan. Rachel Germinario designed a variety of Parkhaven, off Kildare) as well as on 15 May at colourful saris for the women and kurtas for the men, 7:30pm at the Haskell Opera House (1 Church Street, plus an elaborate costume for the eponymous emperor Stanstead, QC / Derby Line, VT). Tickets: 514-990- inspired by traditional Indian Kathakali drama. Chore- 8813. www.mwos.org ographer Mara Lazaris guided the women through a sinuous dance number involving multicoloured scarves, while James Soares-Correia drilled the men in a military routine with theatrical swords. For two brief segments some additional music was required and mu- sical director Kerry Roebuck rose to this potentially heretical occasion by composing melodies that includ- ed both Indian harmonies and ’s themes. If the overall result is a bit hodge-podge, it is consistent with Bollywood, where traditions are often blurred and the chief goal is to be visually and orally striking. There remained the problem of the play’s pseudo- Japanese names and numerous Japanese references. It was decided that the specific setting would be “Bom- bay”—not the commercial metropolis Mumbai but rather a mythical kingdom ruled by an emperor. Gilbert’s somewhat silly “Japanese” names were re- tained—it seemed ridiculous as well as difficult to change them—but the Mikado himself (an actual Japanese title) became the Emperor Mikado, “Mikado” being simply the monarch’s name (Mikado IV per- haps?). Occasional mention of Japan became refer- ences to either Bombay or India: “If you want to know who we are,” the opening chorus now goes, “we are gentlemen of Bombay.” One passage that was origi- nally written in Japanese was translated by one mem- ber’s Bengali friend into Bengali—with some care, so it would scan—and another into Tamil. Again, a bit of a hodge-podge, but with a little imagination it all works. Although two cast members actually hail from the Indian subcontinent, the rest took to the material, the movements and the gestures with relish. It doesn’t matter if you are a redhead with freckles or if your name is Wojnowski. It doesn’t matter either if your

Image: Rachel Germinario 28 MARCH-APRIL 2010

HINDSIGHT MUSIC, RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY A childhood with the Montreal West Operatic Society by Janet Allingham ecent references to the MWOS by Rod At the age of eight I began to take weekly piano MacLeod have rekindled childhood memo- lessons with Doris Norris at the Norrisses’ home on ries for me as the daughter of a long-time Madison Avenue. Harry had been my father’s violin member of the male chorus, Hector Chan- teacher, my father having also been a member of the dler. Montreal Orchestra. (Another violinist from that or- RI think that one of my earliest childhood memories chestra, Joe Greenstone, served for many years as Con- is of April 1953 when I was told that I would be seeing cert Master in the orchestra that accompanied the my father in his costume for . I think that MWOS performances.) Mrs Norris was a strict, “no MWOS must have been using make-up at the Dress nonsense” sort of teacher, who stuck religiously to the Rehearsal in those days, because my father’s face was Royal Conservatory curriculum – except for when not recognizable to me. I Canon John Willis of St was quite frightened by Philip’s advocated my someone who, while he learning to play hymns sounded like my father, for the church Sunday did not look or dress as he School as well. I don’t did. However, I took his think that I ever missed a hand for a “back stage” lesson, even because of tour at the West Hill Au- illness, because Mrs Nor- ditorium. ris came to the house A few years later I when I was home from was deemed old enough school! to sit alone in the audito- rium for the dress re- t the house on hearsal or, at least, until Madison it my mother arrived with was often the my younger brother for case that while the supper break. (My fa- Harry taught violin stu- ther had warned that Har- dentsA downstairs, Doris ry Norris would not toler- taught piano students up- ate children of members stairs in the music room. running up and down the In those days before aisles – a great tempta- voice mail, the lessons tion!) The first G&S () music I re- were often interrupted by calls from Malabars about member hearing was, therefore, “Twenty love-sick costumes or, during the week the show started, by con- maidens we…” from . The year must have versations with members of the Society (Kay Lock- been 1956. From my very first performances I attended heed was a frequent caller) about how things were go- I announced that Fred Sheward (who played the patter ing. Another tradition (dreaded by me, if not by others) roles) was “my favourite.” was that the evening before the Royal Conservatory G& S was even a part of bath time for us! My fa- exam (held at Victoria Hall) Doris’ students played for ther had the habit of practicing the music by singing to Harry. After these sessions, Harry would discuss my us during bath time-the only time I ever recall him performance with my father. Talk about pressure! I re- singing to us. member that on one Monday night at the Montreal I remember being especially taken with the open- West High School the Home and School Association, ing bars of the Overture to The Mikado, and to work- meeting in another room, sent someone up to ask the ing them out for myself on our Willis piano with great MWOS if anyone could come down and play O Cana- satisfaction. Our piano was tuned to “concert pitch” da for them, their regular pianist being away. My father and I was especially thrilled to find out that I could reported that Harry returned to the practice, mumbling play those few bars along with a broadcast on CBC on something like “Every Canadian should be able to sit one occasion. I pictured myself in the role of Richard down and play the national anthem!” after which this Hunt, the long-time, very accomplished accompanist piece became part of my piano repertoire. for the MWOS! Growing up in an MWOS household meant that

Harry and Doris Norris on the set of HMS Pinafore, 1953 (Photo courtesy of MWOS) 29 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS we were very aware of a recurrent pattern of annual Anglophone organizations and institutions. Members events. Practices began in September on Monday of the MWOS were often members of other G&S evenings at the Montreal West High School, and con- groups, including the Savoy Society at McGill. Mem- tinued until the Dress Rehearsal in the spring. Ticket bers of those groups were also often to be found in sales began in January-February, and in March there church choirs all over the Montreal area. The CBC’s were occasional weekend practices, if necessary. April John Trethewey was a member of our St Philip’s choir, was the show, and in latter years my father was thrilled and he could be counted upon to play G&S music on to travel to the Haskell Opera House, in Stanstead, QC, Concert Time to promote the MWOS productions at to perform. In June there was the Annual Meeting, at the appropriate time. When our elderly Trafalgar music which time my father found out the name of the op- teacher, Dr. D.M. Herbert, was feted by former mem- eretta for the following season. bers of his Baron Byng Choir – many of whom were The Dress Rehearsal was a highlight of our year, now MWOS members – I recognized Sidney Cohen, for which my mother prepared an elaborate picnic sup- Evelyn Maxwell, and others. We also travelled out to per. We were always joined at the rehersal by my God- St Helen’s School, in Dunham, to see Harry’s produc- mother, Jeanne Cleghorn who, I was surprised to learn, tion in that all-girls’ school, and parents of those stu- by way of having been a soprano soloist in many Mon- dents were then added to the list of MWOS patrons. treal churches, knew both the Norrises and many mem- The morning after Opening Night, I found myself bers of the Society. walking over to the closest Gazette box so make sure At a certain point I was deemed old enough to at- we had access to the critic’s commentary of the show tend a “real performance” during the week. I was espe- the night before. cially thrilled to attend the Saturday night show when In hindsight I can see that the musical network of my father encouraged me to watch for more “encores” which we were a part connected us directly and indi- and when the female soloists received huge bouquets rectly to many of the English institutions of Montreal: of red roses. (My father was very proud of the fact that schools, churches, and the media. To this day, hearing the MWOS supported cardio-vascular surgery at the G&S music not only delights my ear, but envelops me Montreal Children’s Hospital, so when he died we with a feeling of belonging and connectedness. asked that donations in his memory be made to the Hospital.) Janet Chandler Allingham grew up in Montreal, sum- I have never performed in a G&S production but, mered in the Eastern Townships, and now lives in East- while I don’t know all the lines by memory, I do know ern Ontario, where she works as a public health nurse. most of the music. What I now realize, with the benefit She enjoys reminiscing about growing up in English of the years, is that apart from being exposed to some Quebec in the latter half of the twentieth century, and of the world’s “catchiest” music and to live theatre, I has found a comfortable cultural 'home away from was through the MWOS, connected to a network of home' in the QAHN.

Yeomen of the Guard at Montreal West High 30 School, 1949 (Photo courtesy of MWOS) MARCH-APRIL 2010

EVENTS LISTINGS

Eastern Townships west of the Cavendish Mall 160 Unique railway vehicles on display Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network April 29-30 & May 1 @ 7:30, May 2 @ 400-257 Queen St (Lennoxville) 1:30, May 7-8 @ 7:30 and May 9 @ May 28, at 12:30 pm Info: 819-564-9595 or toll free in Que- 1:30. James Martin gives a talk on humanitar- bec: 1-877-964-0409 Production of Mikado ian Tony Walsh (1898-1994), a founder Email: [email protected] Tickets: 514 990-8813 or of Montreal's Benedict Labre House, on www.mwos.org the anniversary of his death. The Atwa- June 5 ter Library has the biography by John Annual General Meeting and Luncheon Quebec Family History Society Buell entitled Travelling Light: The Bishop’s University QFHS Library, 173 Cartier, Pointe Way and Life of Tony Walsh. More information to follow Claire Info: 514-695-1502 June 3, at 12:30 pm Uplands Cultural & Heritage Center Website: www.qfhs.ca Author Elizabeth Waterston gives an il- 9 Speid St. (Lennoxville) lustrated talk on L.M. Montgomery enti- Info: 819-564-0409 June 19, 10 am to 3 pm tled "Anne of Green Gables -- and Af- Seminar, A Genealogical Day in Ireland, terwards". The Writers' Union of Cana- Lennoxville-Ascot Historical and Muse- by lecturer Gary Schroder da is providing financial assistance um Society This seminar will examine the major through the National Public Readings 9 Speid, Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), Up- Irish genealogical resources used in Program of the Canada Council for the lands building family history research in both Ireland Arts. Info: Tel: (819) 564-0409 Fax: and Northern Ireland. (819)564-8915 Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non- Outaouais [email protected] / [email protected] members Valley Historical Society Call for reservations 80 ch Summer, Cantley Before June 24-Wednesday –Sunday Info: 819-459-2004 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Irish Protestant Benevolent Society Email: [email protected] After June 24-Tuesday-Sunday from 10 The University Club, 2047 Mansfield a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Street, Montreal June 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Exhibition: Frank Libbey and the Art of Plant Sale Woodworking May 25, Old Methodist Chapel grounds This collection of woodenware, photos 154th AGM and dinner This highly successful and popular an- and literature will be displayed on the AGM Starts at 5:30 p.m., cocktail, 6 nual fundraising event is now in its 10th second floor of Uplands in Lennoxville. p.m. to7 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. year. To offer plants from your garden, Our guest speaker this year will be Pro- or to volunteer please leave a message Laurentians fessor Maurice Bric. at the office (819-684-6809) or email at Morin Heights Historical Association [email protected] Email: [email protected] McCord Museum To donate empty pots please drop them www.morinheightshistory.org Info: 514-398-7100 off at the back door of the Association’s Email: [email protected] office in the Old Methodist Chapel at June 6, 1:30 p.m. 495 Aylmer Road, entrance on Golf St A.G.M. which will include elections of Permanent Exhibition board members for 2010-11. You are a Simply Montreal Glimpses of a Unique June 13 member; you can volunteer and vote! City Guided Walking Tours of Old Aylmer Maybe we'll have a surprise too! Over 800 objects from McCord’s fa- These popular tours provide a wealth of mous collection interesting information about a variety June 12; July 10; Aug. 7; Sept. 11. of heritage buildings and the people Legion Flea Markets - We plan to be Till: October 11 who helped to establish and develop our present, so come and say "Hi" (even re- Being Irish O'Quebec community. new your membership or buy Porcu- Space is limited, please reserve ahead pines). Exporail, Canadian Railway Museum In French at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. 110, rue Saint-Pierre, Saint-Constant and in English at 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. Montreal General Information: 450-632-2410 and 3:15 p.m. Parkhaven Theatre Starting at the Memorial Park (rue Prin- 5785 Parkhaven Ave in Cote St Luc, just Permanent Collection cipale and Eardley Road)

31 The Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network invites you to its ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JUNE 5TH, 2010, BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY

FEATURING A PRESENTATION BY LOUISE ABBOTT: “Giving Shelter: Historic Barns of the Eastern Townships”

Louise Abbott is a longtime writer, photographer, and filmmaker who has worked in Canada and abroad, documenting the history and contemporary life of rural communities and investigating environmental issues that affect these communities. Her feature stories and photo essays have been pub- lished in The Gazette, Harrowsmith Country Life, Heritage, and other newspapers and magazines. Her photos have also appeared in many photo books, including Hivers, Regards du Québec, Montréal au XXe siècle, Treas- ures of the National Archives of Canada, and Children in Photography –150 Years. Abbott’s books include The Coast Way, The French Shore, and A Country So Wild and Grand. She lives in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

Location: Bishop’s University in the Marjorie Donald House (across from the bookstore). Registration begins at 9 a.m. Cost: $15 for QAHN members; $20 for non-members. Register in advance by email: [email protected] or call: 1-877-964-0409